Houston Consumer Blog

Estate Sales Rising

Interest in estate sales is going up as the economy slows down.  Those who run the weekend bargain hunts say they are seeing more people now than a year ago.  The upside to the sales is that you can find great stuff at a reduced price.  The downside is spending your weekend finding the houses that have the sales.

One estate seller has found a solution to the problem.  On Wednesdays she opens her Houston warehouse for anyone who wants to pick through the items she's collected.  The warehouse also serves as a place for those living in high rises or deed restricted communities to sell there stuff.

If you are interested in shopping for deals at a warehouse rather than a house, check out this web site:

http://www.lynhuck.com/

Hot Tires

The hot weather is testing your tires.  Older tires that have developed stress cracks can fail under the hot conditions we are experiencing.

Tire repairmen say every summer they see a spike in business and this year is no different.  They recommend you check your tire for cracks and whole you are at it, make sure your tread is not worn down.

Every tire has a tread wear bar on it, if the tread is even with the wear bar, you may need new wheels.

Check the links below to find the date the tire was made and for tips on how to check the wear.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4813029&page=1

http://www.aa1car.com/library/tire_expire.HTML

 

Coupons getting cut?

Looking for a custom coupon organizer, check out this link to a Pasadena company that has been selling them for decades.

http://www.4bestbargains.com/servlet/StoreFront

There are some problems facing coupon clippers, fewer are being sent out, more have an expiration date and the values are changing.

Our Super Saver says the economy is to blame, but if you are looking to save, clipping coupons can still pay off.

Coupon Scams

Saving money is a top priority for a lot of people right now and many folks are clipping coupons.  Before you look on line for coupons, make sure the site you are visiting is legitimate.

You can always check out a company by going to the Better business Bureau's home page, www.bbb.org

Also, the Coupon Information center has a lot of interesting tips about coupons, like you're not supposed to sell them.

Check out the tips they have at http://www.cents-off.com/faq.cfm

Student Loan Help

College graduates facing mounting student loan payments are about to see some relief.  The Income Based Repayment Program would cap monthly payments depending on post graduation income.

In some cases the debt would be forgiven after 10 years.

The program only applies to Federal student loans, but it's estimated than more than 1 million college students could benefit from the assistance.

The details of the plan are vast, so check out this web site: www.ibrinfo.org